BMW’s new electric SUV is a true range monster. BMW drove the iX3 over 1,000 km (621 miles) without charging, and it still wasn’t empty.
Can the new BMW iX3 drive for over 1,000 km?
The 2026 iX3 is set to kick off a new era at BMW as the first of its Neue Klasse, or “New Class,” of electric vehicles.
BMW said the iX3 would be the industry benchmark for driving range and charging, and it’s already proving it. As the first vehicle to ride on its new Gen6 platform, the electric SUV is “a massive leap” from BMW’s current EV lineup, with up to 30% more range and faster charging.
To prove it, a BMW team pushed the new iX3 to the limit, driving “an unprecedented” 1,000 km (621 miles) from its Debrecen plant in Hungary, where the iX3 is built, to Munich, Germany, without stopping to charge.
The team arrived at BMW Welt and still had over 20 km (12 miles) of range remaining. The accomplishment is “a powerful statement about the real-world capabilities of modern electric vehicles,” BMW said after the trip.
BMW’s team avoided highways and used as little energy as possible during the journey. After arriving in Vienna with 53% battery charge remaining, the team cut off air conditioning, heating, and radio to reduce energy consumption.
When the iX3 finally reached BMW Welt in Munich, it travelled 1,007.7 km, proving the Neue Klass can drive over 1,000 km (621 miles) in the real world.
BMW’s new iX3 is rated at up to 800 km (497 miles) under WLTP, but BMW just proved it can drive much further. On the EPA scale, the 2026 BMW iX3 is expected to deliver around 400 miles of driving range.
Thanks to its 800V architecture, the electric SUV can charge at speeds of up to 400 kW. You can see at the end of the video that the iX3 actually hits 404 kW.
The iX3 is produced at BMW’s Debrecen plant with deliveries set to begin in Europe in early 2026, followed by the US in the summer. BMW will build a unique version at its Shenyang plant for the Chinese market.
It will initially launch as the BMW iX3 50 xDrive. In Germany, it’s already listed on BMW’s website with prices starting at €68,900 ($81,000).
In the US, the new BMW iX3 will be available in the summer of 2026, starting at about $60,000. Although it has yet to be certified by the EPA, BMW expects it will provide a range of around 400 miles. In early 2027, BMW will launch the iX3 40 sDrive and iX3 40 xDrive. Prices are expected to be under $55,000 with slightly over 300 miles of range.
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